Mount Pleasant Pets 2021-22

EEE www.MtPl easant . Pet | www.MPVet s . Pet | www. f acebook . com/MPpet s MP PETS F E A T U R E Since its inception, Unchain Charleston — a part of the organization Pet Helpers — has had one goal: to encourage and enable pet owners to provide their dogs with the free- dom and space they need. The goal of Unchain Charleston is to help pets thrive by creating an environment where they can run and play without being tethered to a rope or chain. This initiative is accomplished through owner education, intentional relationship-building and a practical “can-do” attitude. By partnering with dog owners who either volunteer on their own or are recommended through family, friends, community members or animal control, Pet Helpers has cultivated a judgement-free program that engages with owners to discover the root cause for why pets are re- strained. Through no fault of their own, some owners do find themselves in situations where their dogs need to be on a tether or chain in the yard. This could be due to a lack of free space or to prevent theft, injury or unwanted attention, either from wild animals, strays or humans. However, as social animals, dogs require having the freedom to exercise, explore and interact with their environment for their overall health and well-being. Unchain Charleston serves Charleston County with a large number of fences built on Johns and James Island. The outreach team typically builds one fence or enclosure per month— an impressive feat, considering all of the supplies and materials are donated by local businesses or purchased through donations, and the fences are constructed by vol- unteers. By building the enclosure for owners free-of-charge, the seeds of mutual respect and communication are planted. These ongoing relationships and post-building check-ins ensure that the dog’s future needs will be met through the continued support of Unchain Charleston. Other pet own- ership resources include microchipping, collars, veterinary By Fay M. Boudet ROOM OF ONE’S OWN UNCHAIN CHARLESTON PROVIDES DOGS THE FREEDOM THEY DESERVE Photos by Shawn Crisp